Education

Holly Springs preschool pivots to online learning and reaches families in six states

Kathryn Dunn never thought that she would be teaching preschoolers online. "If you told me one year ago that I would be directing an online, at-home preschool, I would have laughed at you," the Holly Springs mother said. Now, she is doing just that, providing services to over 65 families in six states.

Posted Updated

By
Lora Lavigne
, WRAL Durham reporter
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Kathryn Dunn never thought that she would be teaching preschoolers online.

"If you told me one year ago that I would be directing an online, at-home preschool, I would have laughed at you," the Holly Springs mother said.

Now, she is doing just that, providing services to over 65 families in six states.

In the spring, Dunn opened The Nurtured Nest, a parent education program earlier this year, offering help with breastfeeding, childbirth, picky eating, meal planning and more.
After the pandemic, she added Little Wings Academy, offering virtual lessons to children and resources to their parents who want to know how to to teach their kids when they are not online.

Dunn's flexible programming allows parents to work with their children both on and offline.

"It's been an adjustment in terms of being their parent and their teacher," Alesia Bailey said. She had to become a stay-at-home mom to provide care to her two young sons after moving to the Triangle.

Bailey sees the programing as life-changing.

"They need that support, pandemic or not," Dunn said. "And so, I think we've created a community that's just going to live on."

She hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs to adapt and not stay stuck in their old ways.

"I think that's just what you have to do, to make it through something like this."

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.